They say that great beasts have humble origins. Elephants evolved from a small pig-like animal. Whales evolved from a dog-like mammal that returned to the sea. And the Nissan Titan’s ancestors were compact pickups from the Land of the Rising Sun. So when you’re shopping for a 2024 Nissan Titan, consider the long journey from the first small Nissan pickups (then called Datsuns) to arrive on American shores in the 1950s to today’s large, high-tech Titan.
But as you shop, keep in mind that, like many of the great creatures, the Titan is endangered. That’s right, Nissan is canceling the Titan, with production reportedly ceasing in the summer of 2024. So now is the time to act if you’ve been eyeing a truck with full-size V8 power and legendary Japanese reliability. But the good news is that the final generation of the Titan may be the best one yet, with high-tech features, earth-moving power, and a new Bronze Edition.
So, let’s take a deep dive into what makes the Titan a truck that inspires loyalty among its modest but devoted following. We’ll see why it’s going away next year and what Nissan’s plans might be, if any, to replace its endangered giant. Or, like the original Titans, the eldest gods of Greek legend whom Zeus and company overthrew, will the Titan make way for a new generation?
From 2004 Through Today
Given that the 2024 model is the last Titan, a retrospective might be in order. It debuted in late 2003 for the 2004 model year, marking Nissan’s entry into the North American full-size pickup segment. That Titan was noted for being longer than a Chevy Avalanche and having almost an extra foot of wheelbase compared to the Toyota Tundra. It featured a powerful 5.6-liter V8 engine and aimed to challenge established American brands.
Right from the start, the Titan was noted not just for its size and V8 power but for a comfortable interior. Car and Driver magazine noted this, as well as a clever adjustable bed partition and a delightful driving demeanor. Car and Driver also noted that the Titan outran a Hemi-powered Dodge Ram 2500 and a Vortec-powered GMC Sierra Denali in the 0-60 run.
In 2016, the second generation was launched, offering enhanced design, power, and features with a focus on comfort and advanced technology. The beefy new XD model was introduced, blurring the line between light and heavy-duty pickups and offering a 5.0-liter V8 Turbo Diesel option for increased towing capabilities. The diesel has since been dropped from the lineup, but the thunderous 5.6-liter gas-powered remains.
Today’s Titan
That V8 power plant cranks out 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. Nissan calls it the Endurance engine in a nod to its ability to haul and tow long distances or to go further off-road. Equipped with a tow package in the Titan XD model, it’s good for 11,050 lbs. towing capacity. In the light-duty regular Titan, the V8 pairs with an optional 4×4 system. The heavier-duty Titan XD comes standard with 4×4. All models have a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The light-duty Titan is available in King Cab and Crew Cab configurations. The Titan XD comes only in a crew cab. The light-duty truck offers one trim level, the SV trim, in the King Cab body. It provides a choice of five trim levels in the Crew Cab form factor: SV, Bronze Edition, Midnight Edition, Pro-4X, and Platinum Reserve. The Titan XD offers SV, Pro-4X, and Platinum Reserve editions.
The Titan XD achieves its heavy-duty rating with a high-capacity rear axle, a commercial-grade differential, and a powerful cooling system. Its frame has been reinforced for extra stiffness and resistance to lateral bending. It also has heavy-duty rear leaf springs for extra payload capacity. The XD has a 2,240 lb. maximum payload compared with the regular Titan’s 1,680 lb. rating.
Intelligent Features
The Titan delivers on its promise of utility in more than just the mechanical specs. For instance, the bed features the Utili-track Channel System with sliding aluminum-alloy cleats to enable you to stow your cargo securely, no matter what size or shape your load is. Other options for the bed include a spray-on bedliner, a 120-volt outlet, LED bed lighting, and a dampened assist tailgate for one-handed operation.
The interior offers smart features, too. In Crew Cab models, the rear seat features an Underseat Cargo Organizer that’s fully lockable and provides bins to keep your gear sorted and organized. But most importantly, it keeps your gear out of sight of prying eyes. This spacious Crew Cab interior can seat up to six or fewer if you want the optional Zero Gravity Seats. For intelligent trailering, the Titan offers the Intelligent Around View Monitor. With views not only to the rear but overhead, it makes lining up a trailer easier than ever. It also helps you to see your surroundings off-road, making rock-crawling and trail driving easier and safer.
Safety First
Continuing with the safety theme, the Titan’s Intelligent Forward Collision Warning offers an exclusive feature for its class. It scans the road ahead, looking forward at up to two vehicles, and if one of them suddenly slows down, the system will warn you. It’s part of Nissan’s Safety Shield 360, which is designed to make the Titan as safe as it is powerful. Other Safety Shield 360 features include Automatic Emergency Braking (complete with Pedestrian Detection), Rear Automatic Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, a High Beam Assist feature, and more.
Other standard safety features include dual-stage front airbags, front side-impact airbags, supplemental front knee airbags, and roof-mounted airbags for side-impact and rollover protection for front and rear passengers. Combined with energy-absorbing crumple zones and side-impact door beams, you and your passengers can ride securely.
Creature Comforts
The 2024 Nissan Titan offers so many personal comfort and convenience touches that it’s like having your own personal valet. The MyNISSAN Mobile App combines features previously found in NissanConnect Services and the MyNISSAN app in one powerful and very handy suite. You can keep track of maintenance and service appointments, call for emergency roadside assistance, and start your Titan remotely using a compatible smartphone.
There’s an Accident Helper and an emergency contact feature. You can store your service history and schedule future appointments. Leave your keys in the car? Unlock it remotely. There’s even a remote odometer. So the next time you’re dropping off your Nissan for service, and they ask you how many miles you have, you won’t have to run back out to the car to check! A Dual-Zone Automatic Climate control keeps everyone comfortable. An optional driver’s seat memory system can keep track of your seating positions. Apple CarPlay integration offers apps, playlists, Apple Maps, and more, all controlled with Siri voice control.
A Variety of Unique Editions
The Titan’s trim levels let you customize your truck to your preferences. Even the base SV level is as well equipped as some luxury cars, with 18-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels, Intelligent Cruise Control, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and an array of safety and convenience features. The new-for-2024 Bronze Edition upgrades to 20-inch bronze aluminum alloy wheels, LED signature headlights, and a sport bar. The Midnight Edition stands out for its black trim and a higher level of standard equipment. The Pro-4X Edition provides off-road items like Bilstein performance shocks.
Combine the Titan’s tech, comfort, and utility with the industry’s best limited bumper-to-bumper warranty for a full-sized truck at 5 years and 100,000 miles, and the Titan becomes an appealing option for truck shoppers. The fact that it won’t be sold for much longer guarantees a certain amount of exclusivity, now and for years to come.
